Stair Lift Privately Rented Property

[GypsyGSD]

If a person needs a stair lift in a privately rented property due to unforeseen disability when Tennant moved in a year ago things were fine ,and it was paid for by social services or by the Tennant could the landlord refuse the alteration

[RATTER15]

Yes I think so. I know the landlords permission has to be sought before any installation takes place. They also need to enter into a contract to state that the property will be rentable for at least 5 years.

[woofgang]

Yes, the landlord can refuse that or any other alteration unless its to do with gas or electricity safety or similar. Social services won’t install without confirmation from the owner of the residence that its okay to install and where the owner isn’t the resident, then they will need written permission, also they may ask for written conformation that the resident is the owner. RATTER is right that the landlord can add provisos, they may not always add the proviso about length of rental agreement but they could, also they could require the renter (or their representative including executor) to agree to be responsible for removal of the stairlift and any making good and/or responsibility for any damage caused by installation and use. I used to work in the NHS, stairlifts was one of the things I used to get involved in.

[GypsyGSD]

Thank you for your quick reply I would love to live her long term,but it may mean I have to look for other properties that have disabled facilities

[woofgang]

Round here we have the additional issue of listed buildings. Even essential adaptations can be forbidden without appeal, regardless of what the owner wants, if they attach to the fabric of the building.

[hc4361]

Speak to your landlord. He or she may be pleased to keep you as a long term tenant.

[GypsyGSD]

I will keep you all updated and yes maybe landlord may allow it ,as we are both over 60 ,never missed rent and keep property spotless ,even though we have two dogs,she even allowed for us to take in a stray elderly cat so we can but hope x

[TonyV]

I hope landlord will be ok with you

[murraymints]

here also I know of a lady in council house who paid a fortune for one for her husband, who, sadly, passed soon thereafter..but she was obliged to leave it as an adaptation to their property when she left with no recompense...tread carefully

[Peter Pedant]

you are getting it from all sides

try the landlord

[ so far I have always said 'yes' as a landlord - good paying tenants arent that common ]

[Peter Pedant]

woof can clarify

I thought they came and took it out ..... but clearly they dont give a rebate for under-use

[joko]

perhaps if you can somehow guarantee that should you leave for any reason that the property will be put back as it was before - or it be left behind as they choose.
i dont know what kind of damage these do to the staircase when installed but i would think it could be fixed = do some research on that too

[woofgang]

Replying to murraymints comment....I am a bit confused..as I said, the owner of the house (landlord) can set whatever requirements they like as a condition of permission. If they want to set the condition that when the house is vacated, they assume ownership of the stairlift then they can. I suspect though in this lady’s case, there was a “remove and make good” requirement which is quite expensive, so the council kindly waived it in return for being handed the stairlift. I am not sure why she (or you) thought she should get money back?